Summer air travel delays surge

Travel delays at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport more than doubled this summer compared with the same time last year, but federal aviation administrators largely blame bad weather rather than overwhelmed runways and terminals.

From June 1 to Aug. 31, 526 flights through Fort Lauderdale were delayed this year compared with 216 in the same three months of 2006. For much of the summer, thunderstorms pounded the Northeast and Midwest cities where many Fort Lauderdale flights fly.

That's unlike the delays that plagued the airport two years ago.

Then, delays skyrocketed because the airport lacked capacity, and the Federal Aviation Administration moved to increase the use of smaller runways alongside the main one on the airport's northern edge. The county and neighboring cities have fought that move because of increased noise over homes.

FAA officials said Friday that the delays, here and elsewhere in the country, show that the nation's aviation system is overwhelmed and in desperate need of updating. They want Congress to earmark more money to bring the air traffic control system into the high-tech era and handle flights more efficiently.

"This summer was the perfect storm in aviation with the highest number of delays in 13 years, and that created numerous inconveniences for travelers," said Doug Murphy, the FAA's regional administrator for the southern United States.

At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, 359 of the delayed flights were weather-related while 145 were congestion-related. Traffic also climbed significantly, up 6 percent to 74,000 flights in the three months.

Delays also more than doubled at Palm Beach International Airport, going from 20 last summer to 47 this summer. Miami International Airport also posted increased delays albeit not as dramatically as Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood. Miami went from 685 delays last summer to 775 this year.

The FAA wants to spend $15 billion over the next 15 years to replace an air traffic system largely based on ground radar with one that is satellite based. The new system would allow planes to fly straighter paths and closer together, freeing airspace.

Congress must decide on FAA funding by the end of the month, but there is intense debate over who should pay. In the past, airline passengers largely shouldered the cost of such work, but some want private corporate jets to pay more, in proportion to the traffic they generate.

Mike Martin, an air traffic controller at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, said upgrading the navigation system is important, but so is expanding the airport. The airport is seeking federal approval to extend the southern commuter runway so it can handle major commercial airliners.

"They can go to next generation systems all they want, but until they pour concrete, there isn't much more you can do in terms of capacity," Martin said. "Much of this comes down to runways."

Scott Wyman can be reached at swyman@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4511.

ONLINE

Concerned about delays? Keep an eye on flight-delay information in real time. Sun-Sentinel.com/travel